1 dead in Shokan fire, probably by suicide; fire destroys barn

UPDATE: Police sources say one man in his late 40s is dead this afternoon at 3338 Route 28 where a barn on the property was destroyed by fire.

A man in his late 40s apparently set a fire that destroyed a barn at 3338 Route 28 Tuesday afternoon before committing suicide, according to police sources.

There were reports of shots fired and an "active shooter" at the scene, which was a two-story house surrounded by woods just north of the Ashokan Reservoir. The shots apparently were ammunition set off by the heat of the fire, sources said. But the shots had firefighters and law enforcement personnel worried. They stayed back while the flames raged, jumping at one point into the nearby trees and at another moment threatening a large propane gas tank.

No one other than the man who took his own life was reported injured.

The incident started about 3:30 p.m. and was over in a couple of hours. In between, a slew of police and emergency personnel rushed to the scene. They blocked off Route 28 and rerouted traffic onto a side road. They then set up a command post at the Olive Town Justice Court building nearby.

Police have not released the dead man's name, how he died or his possible motive.